DIGITAL.NEOSKOSMOS.COM THE WEEKEND NEOS KOSMOS | SATURDAY 21 MARCH 2015 29 SPORT OPINION FIV ANTONIOU Drama off the track makes up for boring GP Last Sunday Lewis Hamilton and the Mercedes Formula 1 team went for a leisurely drive around Albert Park Lake to take out the Aussie Grand Prix in emphatic style. But, were it not for the week's drama off the track, race day would have been a very boring affair. It all started with the race's first casualty. Fernando Alonso suffered head injuries and temporary amnesia after a test day crash in Spain that prevented him from entering the first race of the season. Melbourne's law courts were dealing with Dutch Formula 1 driver Giedo van der Garde suing his team Sauber after it cancelled his contract to drive in favour of drivers with more sponsorship money. Apparently his contribution of 12 million euros was not enough for Sauber to retain him and the team cancelled van der Garde's contract. The Victorian supreme court ruled in favour of the Dutch driver, ordering Sauber to reinstate him and let him race. The matter did not end there, as Sauber was further summoned to court the next day to defend contempt charges (of still not allowing van der Garde to race due to technical/safety issues) which were heard son's Honda McLaren got stuck in the sand and had to be lifted out. Daniel Ricciardo’s car being pushed back to the pit. by the court on the Friday afternoon while sheriffs’ and bailiffs’ cars were parked outside the Albert Park circuit ready to close down the Sauber garages and confiscate their equipment containers. Deep into Friday night reason prevailed when both parties agreed that van der Garde would not pursue racing this weekend and that Sauber would work out a solution to the Dutch driver's F1 future for the remainder of the season. Even more was happening in pit row, with the current rules and regulations working against Manor Marissa's (just out of administration) new owner, as under the F1 restriction/development rule the team was not permitted to prepare its engine computer management system until the start of practice, resulting in the Manor cars never turning a wheel at the Australian Grand Prix, further depleting the already thin starting grid ranks. Then came the news that the NSW premier wanted to PAOK sacks coach Super League coach Angelos Anastasiadis given his marching orders. PAOK deputy Giorgos Georgiadis takes up interim coach role PAOK has parted company with coach Angelos Anastasiadis, the Greek Super League club announced on Monday. The 62-year-old's third spell at the helm has come to an end following a goalless draw at home to Asteras Tripolis on Saturday which left the team in third, 10 points adrift of leader Olympiakos Piraeus and seven from second-placed Panathinaikos. "PAOK FC announces its decision to end its cooperation with coach Angelos Anastasiadis," the club said in a state- poach the Australian Grand Prix to Sydney and have the cars travel over the Harbour Bridge. Red faces all round at Red Bull as the first practice session got underway; Dan the man's car disastrously died exiting pit lane on Saturday. The damaged engine was fixed by Saturday night but the lack of practice and power availability in the new mill was slowing Ricciardo down. Williams' Valtteri Bottas and Toro Rosso's Carlos Sainz were proving to be two of the best young drivers, taking on the might of Mercedes with some seriously quick times. However, Bottas finished qualifying with a severe back injury, was hospitalised and medically declared out of Sunday’s race. Pole position went to Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes AMG, predicting the end result. With the grid made up of only 17 entries a further two drivers retired on the grid formation lap, Daniil Kvyat in the Red Bull stopped on the circuit, while Magnus- Cars took off in a clean start until the first lap when Lotus driver Romain Grosjean and teammate Pastor Maldonnado came together, spun and hit the safety fence, prompting the safety car out. The rest of the race was a dull and unexciting procession lead by defending world champion Lewis Hamilton. The cars were a little louder than last year, but nowhere near as fast and exciting as they were in 2014, very disappointing for motor racing fans. Although this was the first of many races this year, there was concern that the new rules and regulations have created a measure of unreliability with the current F1 rolling stock (except for the Mercedes). In my opinion the formula rules as they stand may not last more than another year or so. The current ‘token’ (a rule so complicated that no-one I talked to knew too much about it) method of working on engines is ridiculous and the quicker they lift the restrictive regulations the better racing will become. The new rules are there to ‘even the playing field’ but someone should have let Mercedes AMG know. Two draws in ACL Both WSW and Brisbane Roar finish their ACL games in draws Western Sydney Wanderers defied a horror recent schedule to keep their Asian Champions League defence on track, while Brisbane Roar saw its young stars bring home a draw. The Wanderers had played Angelos Anastasiadis ment. Anastasiadis' deputy Giorgos Georgiadis has been appoint- ed the interim coach until the end of the season. Source: Reuters seven matches in just 20 days prior to their trip to face the side they knocked out in the semi-finals last year. Despite plenty of attacking intent neither the Wanderers nor FC Seoul could find the back of the net in the Wednesday fixture, leaving the teams to a 0-0 draw. Roar's next generation took Brisbane Roar’s Devante Clut (C) and his team mates celebrate his goal. PHOTO: AAP/DAN PELED. centre stage in their ACL match, as they fought out an enthralling 3-3 draw with South Korean side Suwon Bluewings. Emerging midfielder Devante Clut scored twice in just his third appearance at senior level, while teenage forward Brandon Borrello's rich vein of form continued with another goal. Clut's second strike was a stunner from just outside the box with 10 minutes remaining, bringing the Roar back on equal terms just as they appeared destined for defeat.